Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-05-19

The scene that followed the explosion was
horrible beyond expression. 1t was of short
duration, as the glare that illumined the
sky and made visible the awful despair of the
hour soon died away, while darkness more
intense than ever settled down upon the
floating hulk, and the victims of the disaster,
manned or scalded, were borne down by
the IMPLYING flood, covered with the bodies
Of the dead and dying. None, apparently, re-
manned unhurt. This casualty takes soli-
tary place in history; but it transpired just
at a time of intense excitement connected
with Lincolns assassination, and it was some
what overlooked. OF the 2,14 on board only
7s6 were afterward found, 1855 having
perished. -as.-.aE-n,--s,.,-.
Perry Sumnerville, of the Second Indiana
cavalry, has told the story of his experience
in this terrible affair, as follows,
any quarters were on the cabin deck, on
the guard, to the left, over and opposite the
boilers. We GOT to Memphis on the evening
of April 26. There the steamer unloaded d
large amount Of sugar, after which she ran
up to the coal barge and was taking in coal,
and that was the last knew until found
myself in the river. In the explosion must
have been thrown fully 100 feet. sank only
once. My first thought was that the steamer
was running close to shore and that I had
been dragged off by a limb. Twas very much
excited fog q few minutes, and then struck
out for the steamer, / had no sooner done SO
than saw something was wrong on board.
could see steam and fire and hear screams and
groans proceeding from the boat and the pas
sengers, SO I began to swim down stream.
I had not gone far before the boat was
wrapped in flames. The scene that followed
beggars description. Hundreds of passengers.
suddenly reused from peaceful sleep, bruised
or scalded by the explosion, OF scarcely
able to crawl from battle wounds or
starvation in prison, were throwing or drag
ging themselves from the burning boat into
the deep, swift river, there, many of them, to
find watery graves. The utter despair and
confusion Of the hour were uufadingly
wrought on my memory; but canjiot paint
the picture, and must leave it to tI.o i'm
agination Of the reader. III swimming
down the river-T Should, have drowned
had I not fortunately got hold of
rail- could see the timber on either hank,
but could not make in to shore About two
miles above Memphis I succeeded in adding
large plank to my rail, which drew
across the front end, holding to the rail with
my feet and the plank with my hands. 1 lay
so near the surface I suffered extremely from
cold. was picked up at Memphis, my res
cuer being colored man, and placed on
board boat. 1 had been two hours in the
river, and was so chilled and numb when
rescued that could not stand Besides, I
had been scalded on the back and bruised on
the breast in the explosion, from the effects
| Of which spat blood for some time I we'll
remember my experience in the water. Two
miles below the scene of the explosion gum
| boat passed us, going up the river, The
many victims of the explosion that were
close to it failed to attract attention; at any
rate, the boat did not stop A little
| later OH heard horse coming
down the river. When he came close
enough distinguished at least dozen men
clinging to him. kept clear of the horse, or
rather tfis men, for fear" Of losing myraiI.
The poor animal was u winning down stream,
were ever rescued have no means of know
| ing. was finally overtaken by Jerry
Parker, Of the Second Michigan cavalry,
| who for quite "a distance swan by nv side.
All knew Jerry, who was great favorite.
| He was astride barrel, and was as good
| humored as ever, at least circumstances con-
| sidered. We would have cheered him, his
presence so inspired us, but, of course, that
was ilnpracticable. We were together for
quite while, our company getting larger at
| times as the current bore us down.. Jerry
| told us to be of good cheer, saying we would
| all be rescued. am glad to say he was
among the number saved" 4ai,
Jan l., 1885, portion Of the survivors met
at Fostoria, o., and effected a permanent
organization, with a view to holding ami
veIsary reunions, the first of which took place
at Toledo, O., April "a, 1886; the twenty first
anniversary. and the second, at Dayton, O.,
April 81 of the present year.